Numbers 22

Thomson^{(i) 1} When the Israelites had removed, and pitched their tents on the west of Moab, along the Jordan, over against Jericho; ² and Balak, son of Sepphor, had seen all that Israel had done to the Amorites, ³ though Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were numerous, yet Moab was incensed at the sight of the Israelites, ⁴ and said to the Senate of Madiam, Now will this congregation lick up all around us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. Now Balak, son of Sepphor, was at that time king of Moab, ⁵ he therefore had sent messengers to Balaam, son of Beor, at Pathoura, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to invite him to come to him, saying, Behold there is a people come out of Egypt; and lo! they have covered the face of this land, and are settled down near me. ⁶ Now therefore come, curse for me this people; for they are stronger than I. Perhaps I may be able to smite some of them, and drive them out of this land: for I know that they whom thou blessest are blessed, and they whom thou cursest are cursed. ⁷ So the ambassadors of Moab, and the ambassadors of Madiam, went with the rewards of divination in their hands, and when they came to Balaam, and rehearsed to him the words of Balak, ⁸ he said to them, Tarry here this night, and I will give you an answer according to what the Lord shall say to me. So the chiefs of Moab tarried with Balaam. ⁹ And God came to Balaam, and said to him, What would these men with thee? ¹⁰ And Balaam said to God, Balak son of Sepphor, king of Moab, hath sent them to me, saying, ¹¹ Behold there is a people come out of Egypt, who have covered the face of this land, and they are settled down near me; now therefore come and curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to smite them, and drive them out of this land. ¹² Thereupon God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them, nor curse that people, for they are blessed. ¹³ So when Balaam arose in the morning, he said to the chiefs of Balak, Return speedily to your Lord, for God doth not permit me to go with you. ¹⁴ And the chiefs of Moab arose, and went to Balak, and said to him, Balaam refuseth to come with us. ¹⁵ Then Balak sent again other princes, more in number, and of greater dignity than them, ¹⁶ and they went to Balaam and said to him, Thus saith Balak, the son of Sepphor, I entreat thee delay not to come to me, ¹⁷ for I will promote thee to great honour, and do for thee whatever thou sayest; therefore come, curse this people for me. ¹⁸ In reply to which Balaam said to the princes of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of the Lord God, to do any thing, small or great, of my own mere will. ¹⁹ Now therefore tarry you also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will further say to me. ²⁰ And God came to Balaam by night, and said to him, If these men come to call thee, arise and go with them: but what I say to thee, that thou shalt do. ²¹ Whereupon Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. ²² And God was angry, because he went of himself to him; and the angel of God arose to stop him on the way. Now he was mounted on his ass, and had two servants with him. ²³ And when the ass saw the angel of God standing opposite, in the way, with a drawn sword in his hand, the ass turned aside out of the way into the field; at which he struck the ass with his staff, to turn her into the road. ²⁴ Then the angel of God took a station between the rows of the vines, there being a hedge on this side, and a hedge on that. ²⁵ And when the ass saw the angel of God, she threw herself against the wall, and bruised Balaam's foot against the wall. Where upon he struck her again. ²⁶ Then the angel of God again retired, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no turning, to the right, or to the left. ²⁷ And when the ass saw the angel of God, she lay down under Balaam; at which Balaam was in flamed with wrath, and gave the ass a severe blow with the staff. ²⁸ Thereupon God opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee that thou hast corrected me this third time? ²⁹ And Balaam said to the ass, because thou hast mocked me, and had I a sword in my hand I should now have run it through thee. ³⁰ And the ass said to Balaam, Am I not the ass on which thou hast ridden from thy youth even to this day? Did I ever through stubbornness, do such a thing as this to thee. And he said, No. ³¹ Then God opened the eyes of Balaam; and when he saw the angel of the Lord standing opposite, in the way, with a drawn sword in his hand, he bowed down, and fell flat on his face. ³² And the angel of God said to him, Why didst thou strike thy ass three times? Behold I came out to stop thee, because thy journey is not seemly in my sight, ³³ and the ass, seeing me, turned aside from me these three times. And had she not turned aside from me I should now have killed thee; but I would have preserved her alive. ³⁴ Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned inadvertently; for I did not know that thou stoodest in the way against me. Now therefore, if it is not agreeable to thee, I will turn back. ³⁵ And the angel of God said to Balaam, Go with these men; but whatever word I speak to thee be careful to deliver that. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. ³⁶ And when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him, to a city of Moab, which is on Arnon, which is a part of the boundary. ³⁷ And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send for thee? Why then didst thou not come to me? Am not I able to promote thee to honour? ³⁸ And Balaam said to Balak, Behold now I am come to thee, shall I be able to say any thing? Whatever word God shall put in my mouth; that I will speak. ³⁹ So Balaam went with Balak, and when they came to the cities of Sheepcots, ⁴⁰ Balak sacrificed sheep, and young bulls, and sent them to Balaam, and the princes with him. ⁴¹ And early next morning Balak took Balaam, and led him up to the top of the pillar of Baal, and from it shewed him some part of the people.